ANGLETON a Angleton ISD will be able to provide high school students with an expanded skill set to use in their future careers thanks to a $25,000 Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics grant from Educate Texas.

The school district will use the grant to enhance its STEM academy, particularly in the areas of health and computer sciences, said Angela Neal, Angleton ISDas advanced academics coordinator.

Neal said the district will use the grant money to boost the academy through professional development, equipment and curriculum.

aItas just allowed the opportunity to do that research and investigations to determine the best additions to the STEM academy,a she said.

Angleton ISD officials began the research aspects of the expansion as part of the application process and have some curriculum options they are looking to implement, Neal said.

aItas an ongoing process at this point to determine the best route for us,a she said.

Neal said the district is looking to add career accreditations, such as certified nurseas assistant and a computer science program from the University of Texas.

District officials are planning to have the additions in place by the fall, Neal said.

The Educate Texas grant creates additional opportunities for Angleton ISD students that the district might not have been able to afford otherwise, Superintendent Pat Montgomery said.

aThis is a significant amount of money for us,a she said.

School districts provide basic education for students, but grants such as this allow teachers to go beyond the primary curriculum, Montgomery said.

Current students are getting to experience more in terms of career pathways than previous generations, she said, and Angleton ISD wants them to have as many job choices as possible.

aKids today get exposed to so many more careers, so much more subject matter, and itas because of things like STEM Academy and these type of grants,a Montgomery said.